2017-18 Dominican Volunteer, Stephanie Zavala: “In New York City, a black woman is 12 times more likely to
die during pregnancy, during labor, or from complications after labor.”
And from an NPR report, “A 2016 analysis of five years
of data found that black, college-educated mothers who gave birth in local
hospitals were more likely to suffer severe complications of pregnancy or
childbirth than white women who never graduated from high school.”
In this two-part video, Dominican Volunteer Stephanie Zavala
reflects on her calling to be a doula, an advocate and support to mothers
during the birthing process. Stephanie was inspired to become a doula through her
work at the Siena House, a homeless shelter for mothers who are pregnant and
mothers who have young children in the Bronx. Stephanie seeks to offer her doula
services to black, brown, and undocumented mothers who face systemic hardships
and barriers.
Thank you for your service, witness, and words
Stephanie.
Blogger would not upload the second part of Stephanie's video.You can view part 2 of Stephanie's video here
Correction: in the second part of the video, Stephanie meant to say “black maternal mortality
rate" rather than black mortality rate.
